The Isle of Patch
"An island full of mist and mystery. That is what Patch has become.
Home to the supposed Goddesses that have entered our homes. Living in it.
They command all as one speaks to servants.
Being commanded with the island protected from all that approaches."
A ship could be seen alongside the coast of Vale. Floating on the water as it sailed forth towards its destination known as Patch. A small island to the west of Vale where it also is the location of Signal Academy where some students can train in. Having a big forest where it contains Beowolves and Ursai and maybe other Grimm.
Yet now it seemed to be different.
A mist flowed out of it, and if one looked closely, they could see an utterly destroyed dock with sunken ships. Even a few Bullheads here and there, from those that tried to enter it, or leave it.
Since the fall and destruction of Vale, most people were to worried taking care of themselves. To survive and repair what was even left. As such, while word did come out about Patch's relatively silence after some time, no effort had really been made for it. Leaving it aside from the few that did try, with no word on what happened to them occurring soon after.
"Alright then ladies," Blackbeard drank some beer from the flask he got. "Good ol Blackbeard has taken you to your destination. I imagine you're pleased?"
"Yes sir." Both Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long then said to their teacher, Mr. Blackbeard.
To explain this situation is quite simple. After spending much time training at Beacon with Mr. EMIYA, while also worrying about their father, the two have asked Ozpin if they may go to Patch to see what was up. Hoping to see if their father was alright alongside the other residents of Patch. While Ozpin couldn't send anybody over there due to focus on repairs, he allowed both girls along with Blackbeard to go so long as they didn't take any unnecessary risks.
If it meant seeing their father again, both agreed.
"Man, so this is your guy's home huh." Blackbeard took out some binoculars and oversaw the island. "Was it always like this?"
"Not even." Yang said as she overlooked the island that was hers and Ruby's childhood home. "It was way less misty, and didn't have a bunch of destroyed ships here and there." Went to show something has definitely happened since the two were gone from the island.
"Just what could have caused this?" Ruby herself asked aloud as she couldn't remember Patch ever looking like this. She then looked at Blackbeard and asked, "You think it might be one of those new monsters?" The creatures that while some looked like Grimm and even vanished like Grimm, ultimately were just so different from the usual adversaries that Remnant once knew.
"Maybe." Blackbeard shrugged. "But I'm no monster expert unless it's from the sea." Plus if Blackbeard had to put a guess, he assumes it must be a Servant over there in truth. 'Not like we know every single Servant that was sent here.' Blackbeard thought as he recalled the many Servants he saw since coming here. "Either way, we're just here to check things out." The two girls nodded at that.
Still, they couldn't exactly dock like they wanted to. Plus it was clear that any ship that got too close was destroyed since some sunken vessels were actually a bit away from the island before they could even dock. Meaning someone was purposely taking them out. Yet that didn't stop Blackbeard from becoming suspicious over a lack of floating corpses.
Either way, eventually the ship stopped a good distance away. Where all three then got onto a smaller boat and started rowing from there. Ruby and Yang having slight difficulty due to never actually rowing before, thankfully Blackbeard gave some tips. Soon enough all three made it on the shore and with no problem whatsoever.
"Alright then kiddos." Blackbeard got off the rowboat and started walking. "Let's do some reconnaissance to see what's up with your home." The girls followed as the trio moved through the forest. Avoiding the main paths since whoever or whatever was on this island, clearly ambushed people who used those paths.
Walking with caution, all of them held their weapons out prepared for a fight. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any Grimm coming their way at all, so it was relatively peaceful. Some minutes later the trio saw something at a distance away. Walking towards it, the three then bore witness to what they could only describe as very…unusual.
"The hell." Yang said as her eyes blinked.
"Huh. Did fashion really change that much around here?" Ruby looked at the people she saw.
"I just got the chills." Blackbeard shivered.
All three bore witness to what was apparently many people that the girls did recognize to a degree. Yet instead of wearing casual clothing, instead they all wore white robes that seemed to belong for a different era of sorts. There were also statues that were being made by people, and statues of people looking like they were scared with signs on them. They were too far to read the words though, with Ruby also noting how at a distance one could see what appeared to be a temple of sorts being made and nearly done.
"Looks like someone's been doing a little remodeling." Yang then said as she looked around the section of the island they were on. "Along with a new fashion statement."
"Everything seems really peaceful though." Ruby saw how the people, while looking a bit tense, seemed happy overall. Or at the very least weren't suffering from the hardships she imagined when Ruby learned Patch was cut off from communication and rumors of beasts living there.
"Although the statues seem kinda tacky." Yang looked at the statues and looked at the ones with signs. "They just seem weird."
"More than you know." Blackbeard sweated a bit as he soon began connecting the dots. An island covered in mist. People dressed like they were in Greece. Statues of people in terrified expressions! Instantly Blackbeard connected the dots, realizing the danger that was here. Quickly he looked around with caution as he began wondering if he and the girls were already in those Servants' trap.
"Maybe we should talk to one of them." Ruby then got ready to leave the shrubbery to speak to the locals. They must have had a clue on what was even going on around here.
Blackbeard grabbed her cape and pulled back. "Woah there." He then went and found himself an excuse to play along with. "Um, you do realize this is just a recon mission, right?" Blackbeard grew more worried. "If anything, we're supposed to stay hidden and then leave once we get enough intel around here."
"All we're seeing is people in weird clothing and statues. That's not a lot of information to go by." Yang told Blackbeard. "Besides, I recognize some of these guys." They were her neighbors after all.
"Plus, they might know where dad is." Ruby has tried desperately to reach her father ever since Vale's collapse. After the fight and some mourning, she then tried to call her father. Just to gain some comfort from his words. Instead all she got was his voicemail message and nothing more than that. Any more calls became useless and pointless no matter how hard she tried.
Didn't help that Beacon didn't have any resources to even send people to check on Patch. As such Ruby and Yang had no choice but to wait, training and talking to friends to keep their worry in check, yet feared for their father all the same. Wondering if he was okay or perhaps something worse.
"I still wouldn't-" Unfortunately for Blackbeard, the two girls ignored him and instantly stepped out into the open. Where the people working then saw the both of them and gasped.
"Hey!" Yang then called out to them. "Nice to see you guys again."
"And nice-um-clothes!" Ruby complimented them. One man let go of one of the screaming statues in shock. It fell on the ground and shattered into many pieces.
"Oh boy. Better get the glue for that." Blackbeard whispered. In the meantime, one of the people walked up to Ruby and Yang with their expression being a total surprise.
Then saying, "You're…Tai's daughters. Aren't you?"
"That we are." Yang then put her hands on her hips. "And we came to see if something was wrong when we got no call from him."
"Yeah. So do you know where he is?" Ruby questioned the person.
"Oh no." The person then moaned before looking frantic. "Look. Listen. You're dad for the most part is…alright." The guy then looked behind themselves as if worried something might come. Then looked back again at the girls while sweating a bit from his face. "But listen, you need to leave. Now."
"Huh?" Ruby tilted her head in confusion with Yang being the same.
"What do you mean by that?" Yang demanded. Though she did notice how the guy looked kinda worried, but not for himself, instead for them.
"L-Look! You just need to leave before-!" Suddenly the air got colder, and everyone froze. Even the guy picking up the broken statue stopped while accidentally dropping the head which cracked in half. Oh well, that guy can be put together later. Regardless, Ruby, Yang, and Blackbeard all realized that the mood had changed for the worst. "She's here." The person then whispered.
"Who?" Ruby asked when suddenly, chains came out of nowhere. Ruby and Yang jumped aside to avoid the chains. Oddly though they weren't even aimed at them as they first assumed. Instead the chains went towards the shrubbery itself.
"Gah!" Where Blackbeard is pulled out from it with the chains bringing him high in the air, then slamming him onto the ground. Ruby and Yang flinched while the other people just shook their heads. Suddenly, a shadow dropped from the sky and landed on the ground. Where Ruby and Yang gasped while also looking a bit stunned as they saw what is clearly a very beautiful person.
The short dress, that impressive figure, not to mention the 'cool mystery' vibe she gave off with that mask on her. Blackbeard, while a bit scared, looked at the newcomer and whistled. "Ohhhh man." He then chuckled while grinning. "While I'm scared out of my toes, can't say I dislike having a beauty like you tie me up like this. Wahoo!"
A heel slammed into his face and knocked him out instantly. Ruby and Yang gulped but quickly took out their weapons. A pair of hands grabbed them which happened to belong to the people who quickly shook their heads no.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." One dude said while appearing nervous.
"Trust me." A woman added on. "You aren't going to win."
"Says who?" Yang liked a challenge anyway.
"Says me." Suddenly the daughters of Raven Branwen and Summer Rose froze. Turning around, they then saw a man wearing the same outfit as everybody else, walking with confidence, and a goofy smile on his face. Tai Xiao Long.
"Dad!"
"So wait. You're saying four bit-"
"Benevolent Goddesses!" Tai interrupted Yang before she said the unforgivable and got herself in trouble. Yang takes the hint and goes with it.
"-er, right. Four 'benevolent' Goddesses came and took over the island like that?" Yang asked. Still confused by what is even going on here. Ruby being much the same.
"Is it like….those two Goddesses in Vacuo?" Ruby recalled the Sister Goddesses. Who also came out of nowhere and were praised all around like so.
"Not sure to be honest." Tai said as he relaxed on his chair. Being on break right now as he informed his daughters what was even going on at the moment and recent events on Patch. "They just showed up, declared themselves the new rulers, and then beat up anybody who tried revolting back."
"Wait a second." Yang then interrupted while also surprised by what her father said. "You said they…beat up everybody. Like…you?" But that couldn't be right. I mean, sure Patch didn't have too many Huntsmen, but it still had loads of them which included Tai as well. Four women couldn't have possibly handled all of that.
"They did." Tai relented while sighing. "Well, not all four as it was mainly Medusa and Gorgon, but they were stronger than everybody here combined. Not to mention," Tai then shuddered. "Have the power to turn people into stone."
"Stone?" Ruby then looked horrified. "You mean those scared looking statues are-" Tai nodded.
"Yeah." He sighed. "Those were people. Thankfully, they can revert back later. It's mainly used as punishment for those who step out of line." Not to mention terrifying. Here Tai thought only Ruby and Summer's eyes could freeze things in place and turn them to statues. But for Grimm only and not people, with Medusa and Gorgon able to turn both human, faunus, and Grimm into statues without problem.
"And…you've been stuck here ever since." Ruby couldn't say she was happy. To hear her home had been taken over, with her father, neighbors, and old school friends forced to work for these four women with no rejection to be allowed. With punishment being turned into a statue as a result while made to do whatever they desired.
"Not the best situation I admit, but nothing we can do either." Tai told them calmly. While he was also still upset, it's been a long while so he's had time to accept the situation he's in. "Still, those four are fair. With the Goddesses, Euryele and Stheno being at times nice." Overbearing sure, and comparing everyone as ants and treating them with little respect. Yet any problem they solved wasn't unfair and they weren't racist either. Overall, things could be a lot worse.
"Things do seem rather peaceful." Ruby admitted. "Though I wonder if that's because of a lack of Grimm."
"Or those monster things." Yang tapped her chin while also realizing the lack of actual enemies that would normally be found. "Thinking on it, where are the Grimm?"
"All gone." Tai told them. "That woman you saw, Medusa, and her….sister, killed pretty much all of them."
"No way." Yang wasn't sure if she could believe that.
"Yes way." Tai nodded. "It was actually pretty cool. The only thing that comes around are just flying creatures and, well, people."
"Which they then force them to stay here." Ruby added with Tai not looking to proud of that.
"Yeah. They don't want anybody coming here then leaving to tell the world about their new home." Tai still recalled how Gorgon destroyed those ships and then sent freakin lasers on Bullheads. Wiping them out with ease while pulling out the down crew and then having them become the new worshippers and help service. "They just want to live here in peace as they call it."
"That's not right." Ruby frowned. A bit angry that these Goddesses kept people trapped here against their own will. Making families and friends of these people worried while they also forced them to do their bidding.
"Trust me, most people aren't that happy about that either." Tai understood their feelings. "But like I said, they're tough and we can't do anything about it." Heck, Tai faced Medusa as many times as he could, and always ended up with his butt whooped. "All I can say is that even those who try to escape just get brought back here."
"Because the last thing we need is for fools to return to the mainland and blab about our new paradise." Everyone froze when an unfamiliar voice was heard. Turning, all three then saw the four 'Goddesses' as they called themselves with Stheno taking the lead. "Hello."
Ruby and Yang were about to take out their weapons when Tai stopped them. Not wanting them to get hurt as he knew what happened to those who tried to threaten those two in particular. The end results aren't pretty.
"My, my, how rude." Stheno smiled as she saw how those two just tried to take out those weapons.
"Guess someone didn't raise their children right." Euryale giggled with Tai frowning but said nothing.
"I'll show you manners." Yang muttered before she then saw the fourth sister, Gorgon, rise up on her tail. Yang then gulped as she saw how tall she was and how much scarier she is than the rest of the sisters. Oh sure she was hot, but look at those snakes on her head and the scales. Freaky!
"What do you want?" Ruby then asked while standing tall, not going to let these four try and intimidate her. Also angry how it was these four that have been trapping her father here all this time, making her and Yang sick with worry.
"Mmm, yes. What we want." Stheno walked towards Ruby as she looked up. Ruby was surprised at how those two bigger sisters listened to Stheno considering how small and cute she looks, but said nothing of it just in case. "Well, what we want is for little rats like your kind to keep coming to our little island."
"Yes, other me." Euryale agreed. "All we Gorgon Sisters want is a nice home to live in without interference from the outside world." She then sighed. "Such a shame that it can't happen when time and again so many of you just come."
"It's annoying." Medusa was also with her elder sisters on that point with Gorgon hissing. The two have bad memories of humans always coming to the island, and only didn't kill these people because they weren't here for a fight. Not that it didn't bug them any less.
"Well, what did you expect when family and friends who can't call their loved ones make the rest worry." Yang pointed out. "Heck, we only came to see our dad."
"That is a problem I admit." Stheno sighs in a mocking tone. "Quite frankly, I admit while amusing at first, it has become tiresome to keep all these people here in line while dealing with those who try to come on our isle."
"Really?" Ruby looked a bit hopeful. Wondering if maybe things can change now. "So then…will you let everyone go?"
"Not even." Euryale laughed. "We just don't want any more visitors to come. Why, even Meduse-less are getting tired saving the rats drowning on their ships when shot down." Plus it ruined the environment when bits of metal fell onto the coast. Such a horrible mess. Thank goodness they had so many workers to clean that up.
Ruby looked unhappy by that. However, she then wondered something. "Then," She started. "What if we made a deal?"
"Oh, that sounds amusing." Stheno tilted her head in a manner that made Ruby felt was adorable. "And what kind of deal would a commoner have that will make a Goddess approve of?"
"Um…" Ruby actually had no idea what to say to that. She really just said this on a moment of action, having no idea on a way to get them to let her father and all these people go. Didn't help that she had no way of getting them what they wanted, that being, a home to themselves. Unless…
Ruby snapped her fingers. "Oh, I got it."
"And what is it you got?" Stheno puffed her chest wide while crossing her arms.
"Simple." Ruby said. "See, back in Vale things are kinda chaotic. But the headmaster at Beacon, professor Ozpin, can help out with your wish." Yang and Tai had no idea what Ruby was going to say but remained silent to hear what she had. "Basically put, he's more or less the person in charge of Vale right now."
Technically it was that guy, Jason for some reason, that's the actual ruler of Vale somehow. But since he was gone, Ozpin took command which people accepted a lot more.
"Ah yes, this Ozpin fellow." Euryale looked like she knew who Ruby was talking about. "We have heard of him."
"Yep. And with his help, we can actually send you to another island that's completely empty." Merlot's island in fact. Er, yeah it was kinda of a mess. Grimm, mutated Grimm, broken machines and green ooze all over. That kind of stuff. "However, I can promise that nobody will ever go there, and you can make it in your vision."
Stheno, Euryale, and the two Medusas all looked at one another. Interested in this prospect. They naturally knew this girl wasn't telling them everything, and there might be some cons to this. Yet the freedom they could achieve would be nice, not to mention they can be by themselves and together as a family without interference.
"Very well then," Stheno then faced Ruby. "Contact this Ozpin and we can work things out later. If all goes well, you can take the little people out of here." Ruby grinned while Yang and Tai smiled at how Ruby actually managed to work things out. Perfect.
"Alright then. We'll be back soon enough." Ruby then turned ready to leave before pausing. "Actually, wait." She then faced the Gorgon Sisters again. "Um, do you know where our teacher is?" Blackbeard, who had been captured a while ago. Hasn't been seen after Tai took Ruby and Yang to talk.
"Right, him." Euryale rolled her eyes. "He got creepy as he 'complimented' Meduse-less. Sooooo…"
"That is one ugly statue." A young teen said as he and his friends saw a statue of a guy wearing an otaku shirt and had a weird look on his face. The teens then looked at one another. "Wanna tip it?"
"Hell yeah!" A shattering sound could be heard.
"Just get some super glue later." Gorgon chuckled sinisterly. "That stuff actually works somehow."
"Right." Ruby said while feeling very disturbed. Yang being the same with Tai pitying Blackbeard. Ruby then narrowed her eyes at the four sisters before commenting on what she remembered. "Hey…do you guys have a little sister?"
All four looked confused, so Ruby decided to explain further. "It's just…my uncle is with his partner. And she looks an awful lot like you."
"Like us." Stheno then grinned sadistically with Euryale doing the same. "Oh my. Do you hear that other me?"
"Yes, me." Euryale chuckled. "It seems a certain someone is here, and yet still hasn't come to us. Keeping us waiting."
"Hehehe. Perhaps a little….punishment is in order." Stheno declared with the two Medusa's shaking a little. Somewhere across the island, a certain Gorgon sister also shivered for reasons she didn't know. An ever so familiar feeling for her situation.
As for Ruby and Yang, well, they both looked at their father who grinned. It seemed they had a lot to talk about.
Yay. Happy ending for all…aside from Blackbeard. He can be so cool at times and serious…then becomes an idiot and total pervert. How Grand Order turned an infamous pirate to THAT, I till don't get. Real shame.